Here’s the story from cbc.ca and there’ll be no shortage of reactions like these: 1-2-3-4

I’m so angry I can’t describe it. While I can understand Stephen Harper’s objections – everything from arrogance to misogyny – Jack Layton’s are more selfish but I think female dippers might have something to say to him.

Wouldn’t Harper and Layton (and Duceppe who’s also in on this) love a chance to throw stuff at Elizabeth the way their hacks do? From the Conservatives, “Oh the Greens are just hippies and a one-issue party” and from the NDP, “Sheesh, those Greens are more Conservative than Harper. Watch out for them!”

While people equally outraged as me were probably already massing, I left this comment on the cbc.ca website:

I think members of the consortium should meet at a small, family Italian restaurant near the O train (or subway, depending on whether it’s Ottawa or Toronto).

There’s a little bathroom in back with a toilet that has one of those tanks on the wall, you know, with a long chain to flush it. It’s a perfect place to hide something…

Until Elizabeth is let in to the debate I’d like to see the other leaders get nagged throughout the campaign at every stop – not by media, necessarily, but by…hmm…agitated guests and on-lookers.

IM’ing Kelly I was just reminded that years ago, during the first Quebec referendum, the campaign turned completely after a female cabinet minister compared female federalists to a dowdy, compliant housewife character on Quebec TV named Yvette. Before you knew it Yvette rallies were being held all across the province and it was probably the difference between Yes and No!

Maybe we need a movement like the Yvettes to open the doors to Elizabeth October 1 and 2!

Letter from the Green Party of Canada to GPC Friends and Supporters

Today’s decision by the broadcasting consortium is an inexcusable mistake and a slap in the face to all those who care about democracy and freedom of speech in this country. They have bowed to crass partisan politics from three other federal parties. Elizabeth May deserves to be in the included in the nationally-televised leaders’ debates. She has jumped through every hoop that has barred her way and she still is being kept from presenting the Green platform to a national audience by the Conservatives, NDP and Bloc.

The Green party is a truly national party that has run candidates across the country for the past two elections. We have a sitting MP. We had the support of nearly 700,000 Canadians in the last elections and are polling at over one million votes in this election. There is no logical reason why Elizabeth May and the Green Party should be kept out of this important national forum.

No other party has been as successful as the Green Party and still be blocked from public national debates. In 1993 the Reform and Bloc Parties were included in the debates with only one MP and no official party status. Neither ran candidates across the country. There is no precedent for this private decision to exclude the Green party from the leader’s public debate. In fact, all the precedents support our inclusion in this public forum. . Partisan politics has kept her out, this is an insult to the Green party and called the fairness of the election into question

It is so important for Elizabeth May to be present at the debates. The majority of Canadians make their voting decisions based on them. The Green party needs your help to remedy this situation. We need you to write, call and contact the Broadcasting Consortium and tell them they are wrong. Tell them that Canadians deserve to hear the voices of all national leaders.

Most importantly, you should phone, fax or email the party leaders who kept Elizabeth May out of the debate. Make them accountable for this outrageous, antidemocratic act.

You can visit http://demanddemocraticdebates.ca to sign a petition to pressure the Broadcast consortium to make sure that Green Party leader Elizabeth May is included in the leaders’ debates. You can also let the broadcast consortium know of your disagreement by contacting them at:

Talk to everyone you know about this important subject and make sure they get involved in supporting the Green Party’s fight. A complaint has been filed to the CRTC and Legal proceedings to overturn the decision have already started. These initiatives can only be strengthened by your support. The Green Party has retained the best lawyer in Canada in this field to represent the party in court. The Green party is legally and politically required to be in these debates.